KKK Role in 1920s Discrimination

KKK Role in 1920s Discrimination THE KU KLUX KLAN'S ROLE in DISCRIMINATION in the U.S. (1920) The objective of this work is to research the Ku Klux Klan and the factors of discrimination in the 1920s following WWI when immigrants began pouring into the United States. This work will examine the role the KKK played in this discrimination and the effect that the KKK had on society in the 1920s.

During the decade of the 1920s just following the end of World War I immigrants began coming to the United States en' masse.

All of this occurred in what is known as the 'Roaring Twenties' and was a time when: "People began to drink more, women's dresses became shorter and their actions were sometimes more dishonorable, jazz houses sprang up..." (Werner, 2007) This period occurred at the ending of the Victorian Age, which is defined as "...a strict set of morals and values that dated back to Queen Victoria." (Werner, 2007) for those who adhered to the Victorian standards of behavior and society an answer was demanded as to why this was occurring with the immigrants being treated as causal in the great change that was being witnessed in the United States.

It was during this time that discrimination became an issue in the United States. I. Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan had been originally formed in 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee and was known for intimidation of blacks in the Southern United States. This group committed heinous deeds to black individuals however, "After a short violent period the Klan disappeared..." (Kasherova, 2003) the Klan was reformed again by "...a preacher named William J.

Simmons." During the year of 1915 and experienced a great revival in the 1920s "when the organization opposed immigration." (Kasherova, 2003) the Klan targeted the NCAAP initially but then moved to discriminate and target communists, socialists, foreigners..." (Kasherova, 2003) and following WWI the Jews and Roman Catholics. II.

KKK Impact on 1920s Society Ludwig writes that "Fear is a great motivator in man" and this is illustrated in the actions of the KKK during the 1920s when immigrants were piling into the arms of America in great number and various differential racial, cultural, and religious groups were being integrated into the U.S. Those who had lived for generations in the U.S. were unsettled and wary as these changes occurred.

Immigration soon became a social and political issue among the public, groups began to form based on beliefs held which were similar from group to group, and the prevalence of organizations experienced growth with the KKK being no exception to the rule. The KKK used phrases such as "America for Americans" (Ludwig, nd) Ludwig additionally states: "Anti-Catholic prejudice was alive and even rejuvenated in some quarters in the twentieth century. Protestant "fundamentalists" and other new Christian denominations revived anti-Catholicism as part of an insistence on "original," pre-Rome Christianity.

Americans, goaded on by hate groups, feared that Catholics would pay allegiance to their "foreign King" (the Pope) rather than their new country (Pencak, 110). Although there was a strong argument for this, as much of the Italian immigrant population consisted of devout Catholics, there never was any sound basis for this judgment" (nd) the KKK contributed to all of this in the role of antagonizor changing and affecting political events and elections during this decade. (Balderas, nd; paraphrased) Bibliography Bustamante,.